Midland, Mich.—Brian Wolfe’s grand slam home run keyed a five-run third inning as the Great Lakes Loons defeated the Dayton Dragons 9-3 on Saturday night. The loss was just the second in the last seven games for the Dragons and dropped their record to 12-11. Great Lakes improved to 10-10 with the win.

Great Lakes led the Dragons 2-1 when they loaded the bases with two outs in the third. Wolfe connected on a line drive home run to right field, just the fifth homer allowed all season by Dragons pitchers. Johan Mieses followed with a home run to left, giving the Loons back-to-back homers and a six-run lead at 7-1.

The Dragons scored one run in the top of the fifth to pull to within five at 7-2, but they could never get closer. Josmar Cordero hit a solo home run for Great Lakes in the bottom of the fifth to give them their third homer of the night.

Dragons starting pitcher Tyler Mahle (2-2) suffered the loss. He allowed seven runs on seven hits in four innings, walking three and striking out five. Mahle was victimized by the five-run third inning.

The Dragons collected seven hits. Luis Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Wendell Soto had a triple, walk, and two runs scored. Soto circled the bases in the top of the third when he drove a ball to the right-center field gap and would have settled for a three-base hit, but the relay throw from the outfield skipped off the glove of a Great Lakes infielder and Soto beat the throw to the plate. The play was scored as a triple and a one-base throwing error. The only other extra base hit for the Dragons was a second inning double by Narciso Crook. Great Lakes collected nine hits including four doubles along with the three home runs.

Dragons pitchers walked five in the game, just one fewer than they had allowed in the previous seven games combined.

The loss dropped the Dragons to fourth place in the East Division, two games behind Lansing and Bowling Green, who are tied for first, and one game behind third place South Bend.

The Dragons close out the series with the Loons and the six-game road trip on Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. Wyatt Strahan (3-1, 2.61) will pitch for the Dragons against Great Lakes’ Brock Stewart (1-0, 3.00). The Dragons are 3-2 over the first five games of the trip.

The next Dragons home game is Monday night against the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the start to a three-game series through Wednesday. All three games start at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field.

All Dragons games are broadcast on radio on Fox Sports 980 WONE and on the internet at wone.com. Games are also available on the Dayton Dragons mobile app.